Inside: Let’s face it. Not everyone is excited or motivated to declutter their stuff. Read on to learn how to declutter when you don’t want to, but know that you need to.
Are you completely overwhelmed by the amount of clutter in your home – but can’t find the motivation to actually get rid of it?
Or maybe you’ve managed to muster up the energy to get started – only to find your motivation disappears before you’ve made much progress.
Either way, you know you need to deal with the problem. But decluttering when you don’t feel like it can feel like an impossible challenge.
Fortunately, this challenge is one that you can overcome. With a little mindset shift and the right strategy – and maybe some solid background music – you can find the motivation to declutter, even when you don’t want to, and get the job done.

Why do we lose the motivation to declutter?
It’s easy to think that you’d have no problem finding the motivation to declutter… but it’s easier said than done.
Even if you actively dislike the amount of clutter in your home and really want it all to disappear, actually doing the work isn’t something many people look forward to.
Decluttering can consume a ton of time and energy – two resources that many of us are already running low on.
It requires a surprising amount of mental capacity and strength to determine what stays and goes, and to force yourself to part ways with stuff you don’t really want but still have a hard time letting go of.
And it can be such a massive task that it’s easy to feel like you’ve made no progress at all, even after spending hours decluttering your stuff (this is especially true if you’re trying to attack a large space all at once!).
With that in mind, it’s easy to understand how your clutter became such a problem in the first place – and how finding the motivation to actually make a change is such a challenge.
How to Declutter When You Don’t Want to: Ways to Regain Your Motivation
While finding that motivation to declutter when you really don’t want to can be a challenge, it’s one you can overcome. And once you’ve built a little momentum, you’ll be surprised to see how much progress you can make when it comes to decluttering your space.
If you’re struggling to find the decluttering motivation you need, here are some tips and tricks you can try to change your mind and make it happen.
1. Visualize the end result.
For many of us, decluttering is a marathon, not a sprint. One of the biggest reasons we lose our motivation is the fact that we can spend hours decluttering our space – and feel like we barely made a dent.
But think about it. Chances are it took YEARS to accumulate all of the clutter in your home. Do you really think you’ll be able to clear it all away in an hour or two?
For many of us, it’s going to take a lot longer than that to complete the job – or to even begin to notice a meaningful difference throughout our homes.
That’s why it’s so important to visualize the end result. Close your eyes and picture your home free of all that clutter and junk.
What will it look like? How will it feel to relax in a space that’s clean and clutter-free? How nice will it be to quickly and easily find the things you’re looking for, without digging through unnecessary stuff?
By visualizing the product of your hard work and letting yourself get a little taste of how great it will be to accomplish the task at hand, you can tap into those feelings when you hit a wall and find the motivation to continue.
2. Set small goals.
Don’t wait to celebrate until you’ve decluttered your entire home. Instead, break the task up into smaller, more manageable goals.
Not only will this make the thought of decluttering way less overwhelming, but it’ll also give you some reasons to celebrate your progress along the way. These goals can be as big as tidying up a single room and as small as tackling a corner, closet, or drawer – whatever you think makes the most sense for you.
The key? When you achieve your goal and reach your milestone, celebrate it! Treat yourself to a quick break.
Take a before and after picture and admire your progress. You can find ways to treat yourself while still living minimally.
Some ideas are to get coffee with a friend, take a walk in an area you love, or take the time to read that book you’ve been wanting to. Choose something that feels rewarding to you while still aligning with your goals.
By celebrating your decluttering wins and tying your progress to positive things, it’ll be easier than ever to find the motivation to make even more progress.
3. Set a timer.
Another great strategy to help you find your motivation to declutter involves setting a timer. If the thought of decluttering all day is absolutely draining, how about one hour? 30 minutes?
If you’re pressed for time or really struggling to find your motivation, even 5 or 10 minutes can make a big difference.
Grab your phone and set a timer for however long you decide – and commit to being focused on decluttering until that timer goes off. Put away all distractions, roll up your sleeves, and get to work.
When you’re focused, you might be surprised to see how much progress you can make. And when your timer goes off, step back and admire the progress you’ve made.
At this point, you can either step away and take a break or use your newfound motivation to keep going.
Not sure what areas to start with? Check out these easy areas to declutter in 10 minutes. You’ll want to pick small doable spaces so that you can get them completed in the time allotted.
4. Make it fun!
Let’s be honest – decluttering isn’t always the most enjoyable task in the world. Going through old stuff, cleaning and sorting and throwing things away, isn’t exactly most people’s idea of a good time.
But that doesn’t mean it has to be a miserable experience. Instead, find ways to make decluttering enjoyable!
For some people, decluttering is way more fun with company. Call a friend or family member and see if you can recruit them to help. Catch up as you sort clothes into ‘keep’ and ‘donate’ piles or tackle the mess in the garage.
Prefer to tackle your clutter solo? Put on an upbeat playlist and turn your decluttering session into a dance party – or listen to a well-loved podcast that you can get lost in as you work.
By finding a way to make decluttering an activity that you look forward to by pairing it with something fun, you’ll have a much more enjoyable experience – and be more likely to continue the task to completion.
5. Remember your why.
There are a number of reasons why you may want to declutter your space and simplify your stuff. Focusing on the benefits of having a decluttered home, can help you regain your motivation.
Maybe you want to create a more calm space where you can truly relax. Or perhaps you’re tired of wasting time looking for misplaced items.
Or it could be that you want to save more money and hope to get some money back by selling your unwanted items.
Another motivator could be wanting fewer distractions at home so that you have more time and attention to focus on the things and people that are most important to you.
Or you might be thinking about not wanting to leave a lifetime’s worth of stuff behind for loved ones to sort through after you’re gone. If you went through that after family members passed, it becomes a bigger motivator to not do that to family members.
Whatever your reasons are, keep them front of mind. These important decluttering reminders can help you regain your motivation even if you don’t really feel like decluttering.
6. Notice the results.
Have you ever felt like you needed to do something but had no motivation to begin? That’s a common experience.
Sometimes we wait for some magic feeling to come over us that will cause us to finally take the first step when what we really need to do is just take the step (even when we don’t feel like it).
For many people, this is how exercising is. It may not be something you look forward to doing but you know you should and that the results are worth the effort.
In many cases, starting creates motivation to continue as you see and appreciate the outcome of your work.
“Progress compounds. It builds on itself. Progress begets progress…The form this takes is a number of feedback loops, or self-reinforcing cycles.” –Jason Crawford
Determine to begin even if you don’t want to and often that is all that is needed to get yourself motivated to continue.
It’s also helpful to consider that you can declutter and bring joy to others in the process. By donating items you don’t want or need anymore, you can see how your items can benefit others.
How do you find the motivation to declutter when you don’t want to? Leave a comment and share what works for you!
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I WISH I COULD TURN MY HOUSE UPSIDE DOWN AND SHAKE EVERYTHING OUT AND BE DONE WITH IT.
I 100% feel that!! I love the concept of the move out method… in theory. We had an earthquake this morning. Wouldn’t have it been lovely if all the excess just ‘shook’ out of our house! Yeah….
I found a thrift store where all proceeds go to help rescue dogs in shelters. By donating there, I feel so good, knowing my items will help these precious babies! It’s surprisingly easy now to load up my car to donate all I can!
I was slowly preparing to downsize, moving room by room, for our long-range plan to move into a retirement community. I got motivated when my husband wound up in the hospital for two weeks and told me he couldn’t come home to the responsibility of a house and garden. It was crushing him. We were already on the waitlist for an apartment.
One and a half months later, we moved out of a two story, four bedroom, two bath house with a very full basement into a two bed/bath condo. And everything we owned, fit in our unit. I switched from purging and sorting to cherry picking what we’d need in our new life. Everything else stayed behind to give to family, sell in estate sale or auction, donate or, last resort, the land fill.
I love your “cherry-picking” idea!
I made a resolution to have my spare bedroom decluttered by end of January. However, I injured my back and could hardly walk so now I want to get it done. My plan is to make it my craft room.
I’ve got all my craft supplies organized so now I need to rearrange furniture so I can sort out different areas, for each craft. The centre will be main workstation as I have a large ergonomic desk. How would you start?
i found that starting by emptying the room completely is a firm plan towards progress. That way, you can start by doing a thorough cleaning of the floor, walls, furniture, and even paint if needed. That in itself is a huge step and sense of accomplishment. in addition, you now also have the opportunity to reorganize the entire room as well. Don’t worry about finishing in a day. if it takes two or even several it’s ok. remember you lived in the cluttered room prior to this, and procrastinated for some time…..
Patricia—I’ve always said, “Take the best of the best, and leave the rest” to anyone downsizing. I like your “cherry picking what we’d need in our new life.”
it’s hard enough, than when you add someone in your life that has a serious hoarding problem, it becomes a nightmare, especially if your trying to be somewhat minimalist !
Rachel, I have that problem. It’s really discouraging that he doesn’t even see the benefits, let alone want to do something about it. I have yet to find anything that will really help, not in the long run. So if anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear them!
I think this is a situation where therapy would need to be part of the solution. However, if your partner is unwilling to see that they have a problem or won’t go to therapy (either together or alone) then it is a pretty tough situation. I wish there was some other magic answer!
Good Morning,
I couldn’t be more delighted that I came across this article. Especially with the revelation that it came the day after my Birthday. Looking forward to gaining Clarity from this Clutter Clearance Journey. Regards Althea
I completed my first big apartment/closets declutter in winter 2024. I may be a freak, but I loved doing it. I had lovely (some expensive) things to give away, especially from the kitchen. Things I bought because they were beautiful but never used because I’m one person so don’t need three sets of china for 8 or Mason Cash complete set when I haven’t baked in 15 years. I have two family members with very young children, parents who work entry level jobs and don’t have money for extravagances, so I gave them my extravagances. Exhilarating for me to make them happy and them to receive. When I visit their homes and see them using all the things, I smile.
Throughout the year I’ve continued decluttering, posting items on Buy Nothing Group, watching happy folk leave my home, shopping bag filled with goodies. It’s the only way I can keep a handle, particularly on my closet. In kitchen I do the “one thing in, one thing out” exercise, leaving the “out” items outside my apartment door for neighbors to take. They’re generally gone next day. It’s my version of the city stoop.
Anyway, it’s a fun exercise watching my apartment become what I envision. Now I must stop adding plants!
Every surface area that my wife has access to gets buried in crap. It has been this way for 40 years. I have found no way to make it change. We moved from MD to NC two years ago, and despite dozens of trips to the dump and donation centers, our “beautiful” new house has crap all over it, again. Totally demoralizing. Hoarding is a disease, and it is passed down the generations.
For me finding the motivation is simple. I watch an episode of Hoarders!
In my opinion;
My hoarding does feel like a hereditary disease.
My only defense is taking care of myself first. The morning routine is important to get me going. Get up, brush your teeth, get dressed, make the bed, eat breakfast.
Hoarders is not on Antenna TV in Salt Lake Co. area. When I watched an episode of Hoarders; it did motivate me to get up before the program was over to get rid of stuff that some humans would refer to as garbage. For example:
I did throw out all my old make-up.
I do not buy make-up anymore.
I threw out my Dad’s World War II pictures. That was his life then. I kept only pictures when I knew him.
I do not want to live the past. I try to live only now.
I accepted the fact that nobody really wants my stuff. I try to donate. Now I am ready to just put it all in the garbage. A trip to the recycle store is hard on my old body. I did get rid of some old clothes I did not wear.
The 15 minutes a day de hoarding a room does work well with me.
I do not find it easy.
My problem is that I lived for so long without the nicer things that now I buy too many. It’s easy to say to choose one or two or an even a few; but the decisions aren’t easy. I just love pretty things.
In my previous marriage I didn’t have anything nice. Hand-me-downs from towels, to blankets, to dishes and my clothes. He didn’t “allow” me to decorate in my own style. So after over 20 years of suppressing my self, accepting less than, I buy too many pretty things and find I cannot enjoy them because there is too much. (There! I said it! LOL)
I will apply these approaches from the article as well as the comments. Healing takes time and maybe now that I’ve splurged I can step back and finally let go.
Ditto…
I had to move from a 3000 sq.ft home to a small 950 sq. ft rental home & I had to let go of so much! Most of it I don’t miss,now.
As a professional organizer it’s still hard! I’m fairly sentimental too. I use many different tactics to push myself to let go. Different approaches work for various types of things you’re sorting thru.